The Monterey Peninsula is among a very small handful of places that can make the case for being the best golf destination in the world.
Long Island…
St. Andrews…
Melbourne Sandbelt…
There may be a few others, but no one will argue that this area of California’s coastline is about as good as it gets when it comes to golf. Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula Country Club – all world-class golf courses.
So it’s not necessarily a surprise that what is perhaps the most unique course of all of them has remained largely a secret: The Preserve Golf Club.
The Preserve is nothing like those coastal courses, there isn’t an ocean in sight.
The crowds of Monterey and Carmel are nowhere to be seen here.
It’s the most remote, non-remote course I’ve ever played.
And of all the interesting golf destinations I’ve visited in 11 years of traveling for golf – it’s among my favorite places I’ve seen.
What makes The Preserve Golf Club so special? Let’s find out.
What is The Santa Lucia Preserve?
Before we can properly talk about The Preserve Golf Club, you need to understand a little bit about the property that it resides on.
The Santa Lucia Preserve is a 20,000-acre nature preserve set just minutes outside of Carmel and Monterey.
To put this in perspective, the town of Carmel is 1 square mile.
The Santa Lucia Preserve is 31 square miles of wildlife, old-growth redwoods, and one heck of a golf course – among many other things.
History of the Santa Lucia Preserve
The land was established in the 1830s as part of the Mexican Land Grants.
For years the property was a working cattle ranch, until the 1920s when a gentleman named George Gordon Moore came around and decided to turn the property into a playground for the region’s elite.
Rumor has it, Mr. Gordon served as the inspiration for the iconic Jay Gatsby, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, the Great Gatsby.
Mr. Moore built a Hacienda in the center of the property which served as the hub of activity and held many lavish parties throughout the years. Not surprisingly, it’s still a hub of activity to this day, as part of the Ranch Club at Santa Lucia Preserve.
Moore fell on hard times in the 1940s, and the property was eventually sold and reverted back to cattle land which is how it operated for decades up until 1989 when the developer of The Santa Lucia Preserve purchased it.
A decade of permitting and planning would then lead to the Santa Lucia Preserve as we see it today.
The Preserve Golf Club is a private golf club that opened in 2000, and the clubhouse was finished in 2003.
The Santa Lucia Preserve is unique among high-end golf destinations for many reasons. But one of which is it’s two-club model.
The Preserve Golf Club has a membership solely for golfers.
The Ranch Club is the private membership for everything else the property offers (there’s a lot).
Today we’re talking about golf, but I’ll do a full recap of our 3 day stay at the Santa Lucia Preserve where I’ll share more details about the Ranch Club, Hacienda, real estate, and the land itself.
First Impressions of The Preserve Golf Club
The gate for The Santa Lucia Preserve is only about 5 minutes from downtown Carmel.
But once you’re through the gates, you’re immediately ushered into a world unlike anything I’ve experienced.
It’s close to 9 miles from the front gate to The Preserve Golf clubhouse – and the next 20 or so minutes are a journey unlike any I’ve taken.
You’ll start by winding your way up to a high point on the property where you’ll see expansive vistas of the property.
My wife kept saying “Simba, everything the light touches is our Kingdom.” Because quite literally, everything in sight is part of The Preserve.
After a few miles, the drive unexpectedly whisks you down through a valley of stunning redwoods. Coyotes, deer, turkeys, and hawks all met us on our initial drive.
It’s a magical ride, and it sets the stage for a round of golf that mirrors the experience of getting there. I mean this because The Preserve contains surprises around every bend, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, it changes in unexpected and delightful ways.
The hardest thing to comprehend is how such a spectacular and large piece of land, minutes from the crowded golf mecca of Monterey, could last nearly 200 years without being divided.
But I’m sure glad it did.
The clubhouse is perched on top of a hill, and as with everything at the Preserve, it blends in seamlessly into the landscape.
The course is set across 365 acres of the property, was designed by Tom Fazio, and opened in 2000.
In 2016 The Preserve, in alignment with their ethos of conservation, switched to a draught-resistant form of Bermuda grass for the fairways. The result is a wonderful playing surface, that was in perfect shape in mid-December and just starting to go dormant for the season.
Looking out from the back of the clubhouse, you can see the first tee, 18th hole, and a large hill of land directly ahead. I’ll stop short of calling it a mountain, but there’s certainly some elevation. The course is built around this land feature, and the routing feels seamless and natural.
Off the front of the clubhouse, the driving range plays downhill into the valley. It gives you a peek into the wonderful conditioning you’ll find on the course.
But the drive, the views, the land – none of it means a whole lot if the golf isn’t equally as good.
So what makes it so special?
Let’s find out.
The Front 9 of The Preserve Golf Club
The opening hole of The Preserve has just about all of the elements I like to see when beginning a golf round.
First off, it’s a scenic par 4 stretching just over 400 yards from the Gold tees (which play about 6600 years total). Watching the downhill tee shot hang in the air against the backdrop of the Santa Lucia Mountains is one that never gets old.
The first hole isn’t overly challenging. It allows you to hit any club you want depending on how aggressive you’d like to be to kick things off.
The 2nd is an introduction to a wonderful quartet of par 3s. It’s again, not overly challenging, but will provide a tricky up and down if you miss the green.
The 3rd is when the golf course really gets started.
It’s a short par 4 with a downhill tee shot to an uphill green. One thing I love about The Preserve is that the course features a number of short par 4s. Most aren’t necessarily drivable, but they all feel like they’re giving you a chance to make a low score – even if some are deceptively challenging.
4 is a double-dogleg par 5 that gives you all kinds of options for how to play the hole. Long driver? Cut the corner.
Want to give yourself a short wedge in? Play smart up the center and position your 2nd shot based on the day’s pin location.
5 is a short par 4 to one of the highest points on the course. Make sure to stock up at the comfort station before heading up the hill.
And 6 is a long downhill par 3, with a bunker on the right that you definitely don’t want to be in.
My favorite part about 6 is that it has one of the most unique views on the course. One of the coolest parts about The Preserve is there are layers of land. For instance, there might be a small ridge behind you, a valley, and then a larger mountain. You see this when looking towards 6 green.
Look off to the left and you’ll see the valley (called the “Savannah”) that the next set of holes are set in – with more mountains surrounding it.
Despite all being part of the same piece of land, the views and experience are very different depending on where you’re at within the property.
7 through 11 represent my favorite stretch of holes on the property.
The par 4 7th, is the only par 4 that might actually be considered drivable. But at 329 from the Gold tees, doing so will be a stretch for most, despite being downhill.
That said, if you play smart, it’ll give you one of the best birdie chances on the course.
8 is a wonderful par 5 and is one of only 2 holes on the course without a proper greenside bunker.
The view across 8 green to 9 is one of the best on the property, as you head directly toward the mountains.
The Back 9 at The Preserve Golf Club
While I wouldn’t consider the front 9 at the Preserve to be easy necessarily, the challenge definitely ramps up on the back 9.
The 10th is the last of the shorter par 4s on the course. But don’t let the length fool you. If you miss the fairway right, it may be harder to find your ball than you think (not that I’d know anything about that.)
There’s also a severe false front that will send any ball that’s even slightly short, tumbling back down into the fairway.
11 has one of the best-looking tee shots on the course, and is tucked back into the base of the mountains.
Fun fact, a short walk from 11 green is the “Redwood Grove.” This is a gorgeous area used for weddings, events, or just scenic picnics for members and their guests. There are also stories of boxing matches being held there back in the 20s and 30s.
On 12 tee you’ll find the 2nd comfort station on the course. These are stocked with all kinds of snacks and drinks, and are always one of the most welcome amenities to find at a golf club.
This also marks the turn back towards the clubhouse. The Preserve doesn’t loop back after 9, so when you’re out there, you’re out there. And I mean this in the best way possible.
Service at The Preserve is as good as it gets.
One example of this is, often if members want to walk 9 holes, staff will leave a cart out at their preferred spot so that they can catch a ride back in.
The 13th is my favorite par 5 on the course. It also marks the transition from the Savannah back into the woodlands to finish the round.
A solid tee ball over the fairway bunker will cut some distance off the hole. But whether going for it in two, or positioning yourself for a short pitch on your 3rd shot, watch out for the bunker guarding one of the more challenging green complexes on the course.
The 14th is a stunning mid-length par 3. You feel enveloped by nature with trees surrounding the hole and a peak hovering over the backside of the green. The bunkering is fantastic, and a left pin makes going flag hunting especially dangerous.
15 is a hole that makes you long for the “easier” par 4s of the front 9. I think this is the hardest hole on the course. Uphill and measuring nearly 440 yards from the Gold tees – this is a true par 4 1/2, and one where a bogey feels like a par.
The final par 3 16th is the most fun par 3 on the course, as at only 130 or so yards, it’s your best chance for making an ace.
And should you inevitably miss, go find the hidden spot behind the tee where the hole gets its namesake: “Scotch.”
The par 5 17th is the only hole on the course without a bunker, and honestly, it doesn’t need it. The elevated views are spectacular, and the green is challenging enough to not need extra protection. But if you can get your second shot over the ridge about 100 yards out, you’ll have a good shot at getting it to bound down the hill toward the green.
Layup short of it? Pull out your putter. Considering the fairway is probably rolling a 9, you can easily putt from here as well.
The 18th is a wonderful way to finish the round.
With a big forced carry over a canyon, this is a hole where anything can happen.
Stay left to try and clear the bunker to give yourself a shorter approach, or bail out right – but prepare for a big second shot if doing so.
The amphitheater green at the foot of the clubhouse fits the setting perfectly.
Final Thoughts on The Preserve Golf Club at Santa Lucia
The Preserve Golf Club is adventure golf at its finest. When you embark on the first hole it truly feels like you’re setting out on an expedition.
There are over 100 miles of nature trails set within Santa Lucia Preserve, so it’s no coincidence that the entire course routing feels like one giant nature trail. It gives you a little bit of everything from both a golf and scenery standpoint.
But it’s what it makes you feel that truly sets this course apart from others.
When you’re at The Preserve you feel like you’re in your own private golf nature sanctuary – because you are.
You’re unlikely to find many other people on the course while you’re there. So it’s a rare opportunity to experience true peace and tranquility while playing golf.
This is the antithesis to everything else golf on the Monterey Peninsula represents. I’ve rarely played a golf course that allows you to feel so connected to nature and the land as you do at The Preserve.
If you’re looking for a golf experience that will transport you someplace else entirely, all while retaining the convenience of being near one of the most storied destinations the game has to offer, there are few better spots in the world than The Preserve Golf Club.
